African singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who competed on “The Voice Nigeria,” died after a snake bit her while she was sleeping on Saturday. She was 26.
“With painful heart, we announce the demise of Ifunanya Nwangene Nanyah,” the AMEMUSO choir announcer Sam Ezugwu announced on Facebook Sunday.
Described as a “rising star,” Nwangene, known on YouTube as “NANYAH,” was “on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world,” the choir wrote about their tragic member.
Nwangene was sleeping in her apartment in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja when she was awoken by a pain in her leg, her friend told BBC Africa.
The young singer rushed to a local clinic that had no antivenom to treat the bite, before she was transferred to a hospital.
“While they were trying to stabilize her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe,” Ezugwu told the outlet.
The hospital allegedly had one of the two required antivenoms and Ezugwu went out in search of the second dose.
Nwangene was pronounced dead before he could return.
Animal control officials were sent to Nwangene’s apartment and captured two snakes found inside.
One person shouted, “It’s a cobra” as the snakes were wrangled out of the singer’s home, according to a video posted on social media.
Nwangene appeared on Season 3 of “The Voice Nigeria,” performing Rihanna’s “Take A Bow,” at her audition.
The powerful rendition was well received, prompting two of the judges to turn their chairs.
Nwangene chose to compete for Nigerian singer Waje’s team and made it to the knockout round before she was eliminated.
The singer was planning her first solo concert and had teased an upcoming project with fellow Nigerian artist Tbrass.
The trumpeter paid tribute to Nwangene after her death.
“An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large💔. My hand and heart feels very heavy writing this, because it is unimaginable loosing such a young promising great, talented music artist who touched so many lives, it is very heartbreaking—especially in Nigeria where music runs deep in our souls and connects us all,” he wrote on Instagram.
“The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy. From her unique voice, to the stories she told through songs, and the way she represented our culture and struggles, Nanya was a true artist who left an irreplaceable mark.”